Life is infinitely interesting. There are far more things I'd like to know than I have time to learn. If I had a second life, two things I'd get into are trains and architecture.

Salvadori does an incredible job, through words and illustrations, of making the physics of architecture understandable to the layman. He has chapters on loads, materials, houses, skyscrapers, bridges, etc. He also goes into detail on several famous structures, including the Pyramids, the Eiffel Tower, the Brooklyn Bridge and others.

Yes, it's a technical book. But if you've ever wondered how the Sears Tower can sway back and forth in the wind without falling over, you'll enjoy this book.